In this review, we will be comparing RP-1200SW and ASW610XP, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and Bowers Wilkins. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Klipsch RP-1200SW and B&W ASW610XP first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Klipsch RP-1200SWand B&W ASW610XP have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1200SW's woofer is 12-inch whereas the B&W ASW610XP features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz whereas ASW610XP has a frequency range of 25-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ASW610XP's min frequency of 25Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The Klipsch RP-1200SW has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W ASW610XP have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch RP-1200SW's and B&W ASW610XP's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-1200SW has external dimensions of 482.0 x 432.0 x 659.0mm (18-15/16inch x 17inch x 25-15/16inch) whereas B&W ASW610XP has external dimensions of 337.0 x 328.0 x 410.0mm (13-1/4 x 12-7/8 x 16-1/8inch).
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 104mm wider, 145mm taller and 249mm deeper than B&W ASW610XP.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-1200SW and B&W ASW610XP in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-1200SW and B&W ASW610XP Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610XP is approximately 1344.8cm2 / 208.4inch2. The RP-1200SW requires 112% more surface area than the ASW610XP which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs and the B&W ASW610XP weighs 18.69kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 67% heavier than the ASW610XP.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1200SW and ASW610XP's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 High Frequency Response |
140 Hz
vs
138 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
337mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1344cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Klipsch RP-1200SW needs about 112% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 249mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 145mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610XP |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16.5-138 Hz |
25-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
800-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Paper/Aramid Fiber/Resin |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
432.0mm (17") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Depth |
659.0mm (25.9") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
18.69kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
2 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Klipsch RP-1200SW goes deeper - 17Hz against 25Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | B&W ASW610XP has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 400W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch RP-1200SW moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Klipsch RP-1200SW is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W ASW610XP is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | B&W ASW610XP takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Klipsch RP-1200SW offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W ASW610XP is about 67% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Warranty | A | Klipsch RP-1200SW carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-1200SW costs less - $1,100 against $1,799, about 39% less. |
A Klipsch RP-1200SW B B&W ASW610XP
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch RP-1200SW has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch RP-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W ASW610XP is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, B&W ASW610XP is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.